The prophet's dictionary guide to the supernatural

something planted and intended to grow large and wide. The planter in this instance is the Lord God. 1 Chronicles 15:22, 27. 273. Cherub—A guardian angel of God’s holiness and holy possessions. Multi-winged angels that guard the ark of Jehovah. These were the living creatures who were set by God to guard the way to the ancient Garden of Eden. They kept Adam from finding his way back to the tree of life through darkness. These powerful creatures were believed to appear angelic, part human and part animal. They were thought to guard the sacred treasures, sanctuaries, and possessions of the deity. Celestial attendants and transporters of God and His throne. See Anointed Cherub. Exodus 25:19; Ezekiel 28:14. 274. Chief of the Magi—One who is head of the spiritual and supernatural force of a country, palace, court, or sanctuary. The chief of the magi. Jeremiah 39:3, 13 refers to this officer as one who is supervisor over the magicians, astrologers, soothsayers, diviners, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. Daniel, in his post in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, was thought to have occupied this office. See Daniel 5:11. During his day, the Rab-mag, another name for the chief of the magi, was considered to be an embodied principality of the spiritual counterpart’s earthly staff. Although the work was largely prophetic/divinatory in nature, a strong priestly element was affixed to it. The chief magi held the title of master astrologer in the ranks. With Daniel’s gifts far surpassing those of his colleagues, how and why he eventually served Israel’s God in such a high position in Babylon is explained. The chief magic officers of the ancient world were usually engaged by royalty or elevated to the status themselves. Often the regent of the lands submitted to their tutelage and became their disciples. No royal household was without one who served as the spiritual intelligence of the monarch. Such officials were employed to see, comprehend, and interpret heavenly phenomena and absorb them to release their powers, wisdom, and knowledge. Chief magi were well-versed in their kingdom’s affairs, history, and position within the spheres of heaven and earth. They were especially attuned to the happenings of the netherworld which accounts for the entrenched necromantic features of their service. They routinely conversed and interacted with the gods in their jurisdictional vicinity as can be seen by Balaam’s encounter with the angel of the Lord that sought to kill him. Frequently, as Balaam’s mantle would indicate, prophets of old easily doubled as magi and deftly wielded magical powers for the deities they represented. An example of God’s prophets exercising supernatural powers is Elisha, a protégé of Elijah, whose powers